Reflective practice: what is it and how do I do it?

Reflective practice – what is it and how do I do it? ‘An unexamined life is not worth living. ’ Socrates Reflective practice holds importance for health and education practitioners in Australia (Mann, Gordon & MacLeod, 2009), as demonstrated by increased prominence in the new competency-based occupational standards for speech pathologists (Speech Pathology Australia [SPA], 2011). This article explores the topic of reflective practice, in the clinical context, by addressing the following questions: • What is reflective practice? • Why is it an important skill for speech pathologists? • What is the evidence base for reflective practice? • How do practitioner and students engage in the process of reflection? In addressing the final question, four methods of facilitating reflection will be outlined: journal reflection, reflection on a critical incident, reflection following professional development, and reflection on a clinical encounter